Fullerton may disband its police department. The department's been under fire since the death of Kelly Thomas. Here, Ron Thomas, Kelly Thomas' father, speaks to the media after a judge ordered two Fullerton police officers to stand trial in the death of his son.
Joshua Sudock, Orange County Register, Pool photo

The Fullerton City Council Tuesday will decide whether to authorize a study looking into dismantling the city's police department. The study would look into options like consolidating policing in North Orange County and contracting with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Fullerton police came under heavy criticism after the beating death of Kelly Thomas last year. Three of the six officers involved in Thomas' death have since left the force.

But the move seems most motivated by finances: the 144-person department costs about $37 million a year to operate. More and more small cities are looking at their public safety services as financial liabilities, especially pension costs.